Which sound card should I get?

Lazy Z · Mon 29/11/2004 21:23:08

I've started upgrading my PC lately, and I'm thinking I should get a "real" sound card too, since so far I've been relying on my on-board AC97. I have to confess that sadly I don't know much about sound cards since I haven't been keeping up with things :/. I'm not looking for anything too sophisticated, just something with fair quality, and not too expensive.

I've been looking through some auction sites, and I've found some Soundblaster Live cards at cheap prices, but are those too old? As I said, I'm pretty much clueless

. I've also found a Sound Blaster Audigy really damn cheap too, is that a better choice? And of course, if you've got any other suggestions to make, please do so!

Thanks, and if parts of this don't make sense, it's because I'm too damn sleepy...

BOYD1981 · Mon 29/11/2004 22:12:00

personally i'd buy a SoundBlaster Audigy Z2, they're not expensive and have support for up to 7.1 speakers, and with the Platinum version you get a facy 5.25" drive bay panel, or if you really don't want to spend a lot of money, try getting hold of a SoundBlaster 128, they're okay cards and dead cheap.
also, SBLive cards are good cards, most cards made by Creative Labs are, and if you want awesomeness, try get hold of an AWE32 or AWE64 Gold...

modgeulator · Mon 29/11/2004 22:36:06

If you're into doing music, or even listening, the M-Audio "Revolution" cards are pretty nice. You can find them pretty cheap if you look around online.
Otherwise the Audigy cards are good for gaming (the Live series is older, still fine for games too though.)

LGM · Tue 30/11/2004 01:48:14

Any SB Live! line is good for your money. If you're not a sound technician or a major music enthusiast (or don't have 350W speakers), don't waste your money on a 24 Bit card... Creative cards in general are great quality.. It all just depends on what you're uses are. If you just want basic simple sound.. Get a Live! 5.1 basic card. But we can't help you much furhter than reccomending a brand..

Do some browsing at www.creative.com and come to your own decision

stuh505 · Tue 30/11/2004 02:29:32

sound blaster cards may be top of the line, but other cards can offer equally good performance at much lower costs

I use the Gamesurround Fortissimo II, and I absolutely love it. it has a really nice control panel that pops up from my task bar with an equalizer and other controls.

I am using a 400w 4.1 surround sound system...and the music sounds very full and flawless to me.

last year I bought a sound blaster card of comparable price, and the sound of it was *SO* much worse in comparision that I immediately returned it and went back to Fortissimo.

Moox · Tue 30/11/2004 02:33:33

Anothere great line is Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

Gregjazz · Tue 30/11/2004 06:33:11

Quote from: BOYD1981 on Mon 29/11/2004 22:12:00
personally i'd buy a SoundBlaster Audigy Z2, they're not expensive and have support for up to 7.1 speakers, and with the Platinum version you get a facy 5.25" drive bay panel, or if you really don't want to spend a lot of money, try getting hold of a SoundBlaster 128, they're okay cards and dead cheap.
also, SBLive cards are good cards, most cards made by Creative Labs are, and if you want awesomeness, try get hold of an AWE32 or AWE64 Gold...

Yeah, if you want a great soundcard this is the way to go!

AGA · Tue 30/11/2004 10:30:24

If you're not really an audiophile, but want something that sounds nice and meaty and clean, a cheap Soundblaster Live! card coupled with a basic Creative 5.1 set will do. It's what I have, and it sounds great to me.

BlackMan890 · Tue 30/11/2004 18:12:29

humm, this could be interesting
does anyone know about a soundcard with many instrumental?
cause i LOVE to play midi in different soundards

(the best midi sound that i have heard is Monkey island 1 played in Soundblaster live pro (i think, not sure on detail))

Gregjazz · Wed 01/12/2004 06:21:31

Quote from: AGA on Tue 30/11/2004 10:30:24
If you're not really an audiophile, but want something that sounds nice and meaty and clean, a cheap Soundblaster Live! card coupled with a basic Creative 5.1 set will do. It's what I have, and it sounds great to me.

Well, you want room to grow, you know? So if you start getting into more music stuff, you're going to need the features the Audigy series has.

Proskrito · Wed 01/12/2004 12:20:10

well, not sure it this is gonna be a little bit off-topic (sorry if this is the case), but has anyone tried KX driver with live / audigy sound cards? i think its a huge improvement from creative's drivers. At least for poor ultra-amateur musicians like me, with a sb live value, i get asio support, 5 ms latency, a fully configurable dsp, and the ability to route sound paths as i want.
here is the url: www.kxproject.com
This saved me from having to buy a sound card for crappy home recording and such.

Lazy Z · Wed 01/12/2004 13:26:59

Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys.

Well, I'm not really talented music-wise, so I'm not likely to need a soundcard for anything more than playing games and listening to music on my PC, so I think I'll skip Audigy and go for a Live! instead. One question though, is there a big difference between Audigy and Audigy 2? Just curious.

AGA · Wed 01/12/2004 14:22:30

The price, and the number of speakers, at least. And other complicated audio stuff no-one except Creative themselves actually understands.